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Tom Porter to Retire as CEMCO President and CEO

SFIA member CEMCO, LLC announced president and CEO Tom Porter will retire on Dec. 31, 2026. Current vice president of sales and marketing and SFIA president Eric Larson will become the company’s next president and CEO on Jan. 1.

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July 7, 2026
CITY OF INDUSTRY, Calif.—SFIA member CEMCO® announced that President and CEO Tom Porter will retire on Dec. 31, 2026, concluding a 39-year career with the company.

CEMCO’s current vice president of sales and marketing and Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA) president Eric Larson will succeed Porter on Jan. 1, 2027. Porter will serve as executive advisor through June 30, 2027, supporting Larson during the leadership transition.

“Tom helped shape the growth of the cold-formed steel industry through decades of leadership and service as our association’s president,” says Don Allen, executive director of SFIA. “We congratulate him on an outstanding career and wish Eric Larson continued success in leading both CEMCO and SFIA.”

Legacy of Leadership and Industry Service

Porter joined CEMCO in 1987 as a sales representative, where he worked for the Poliquin family. He advanced through leadership roles that included vice president, executive vice president and, most recently, president and CEO.

Porter helped expand the use of cold-formed steel (CFS) framing systems throughout the construction industry. He participated in the American Iron and Steel Institute and became one of the original members of the Steel Framing Alliance. He also supported efforts to increase steel framing in residential construction.

Porter also became a founding member of the Steel Stud Manufacturers Association and later served as its president. 

In 2016, CEMCO joined the SFIA. Porter served on the SFIA board for eight years, including six years as president.

“My time at CEMCO has been deeply rewarding,” says Porter. “Over the years, I have watched our company navigate several recessions, the 2008–2009 financial crisis and COVID, emerging stronger and more resilient each time.”

Tom Porter, center, spent 39 years advancing CEMCO and the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing industry.

Tom Porter, center, spent 39 years advancing CEMCO and the cold-formed steel (CFS) framing industry.

Tom Porter, left, Toshinori Kobayashi, center, and Ted Poliquin celebrate the partnership between CEMCO and JFE Shoji.

Tom Porter, left, Toshinori Kobayashi, center, and Ted Poliquin celebrate the partnership between CEMCO and JFE Shoji.

Leading CEMCO’s Expansion

Porter helped expand CEMCO from one manufacturing facility in City of Industry, California, to four production locations. The company now operates facilities in the East Bay, California, the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex and Commerce City, Colorado, in addition to the Southern California location.

CEMCO employs more than 500 people and has supplied CFS products for major commercial construction projects across the United States.

Porter also led CEMCO through its acquisition by JFE Shoji America Holdings, Inc., which closed in 2022.

“I owe my career to the many people at CEMCO whom I have had the privilege to work with and learn from over the past 39 years. Their hard work and dedication have made CEMCO the company it is today,” Porter says “I am also deeply grateful to the Poliquin family and to our new owners, JFE Shoji America Holdings, Inc. for trusting me in both my past and current roles.”

Tom Porter, left, joins Jill Bloom, group publisher of BNP Media, and Don Allen, executive director of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), during BUILD25 in Charlotte, N.C. Photo courtesy of John Wyatt of Walls & Ceilings and BNP Media

Tom Porter, left, joins Jill Bloom, group publisher of BNP Media, and Don Allen, executive director of the Steel Framing Industry Association (SFIA), during BUILD25 in Charlotte, N.C. Photo courtesy of John Wyatt of Walls & Ceilings and BNP Media

Tom Porter poses beside a pro-am leaderboard during one of his favorite pastimes. Porter plans to retire Dec. 31 after leading CEMCO through nearly four decades of growth and industry service.

Tom Porter poses beside a pro-am leaderboard during one of his favorite pastimes. Porter plans to retire Dec. 31 after leading CEMCO through nearly four decades of growth and industry service.

Eric Larson to Lead CEMCO

Eric Larson started his career at CEMCO 33 years ago. Hired by Tom Porter as a sales representative, Eric spent 10 years as regional sales manager overseeing Southern California, Arizona and Nevada. 

In 2014 Larson was promoted to director of business development managing CEMCO Engineering, technical services, proprietary products as well as developing strategic relationships with industry partners. 

In 2018 Larson was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing where he currently leads the entire sales team as well as the marketing group. He has served on CEMCO’s executive committee for the past 12 years, is a former board member of the Association of the Wall and Ceiling Industry (AWCI) and currently serves as the president of SFIA. 

Eric Larson, left, will succeed Tom Porter as CEMCO president and CEO when Porter retires at the end of the year.

Eric Larson, left, will succeed Tom Porter as CEMCO president and CEO when Porter retires at the end of the year.

Read the full CEMCO news release. 

 

About CEMCO®

Founded in 1974, CEMCO is recognized as one of the largest manufacturers of steel framing and metal lath systems in the United States. CEMCO has built its reputation on the finest in quality material, using only mill certified hot-dipped galvanized steel. As an SFIA certified code compliant manufacturer of cold-formed steel framing and metal lath products with over 60 state-of-the-art roll-formers, CEMCO services both small and large construction projects. CEMCO distributes our products throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Pacific Rim. For more information about CEMCO, visit www.cemcosteel.com. CEMCO is a member of the Steel Framing Industry Association.

 

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